Steering wheel kit

ABSTRACT

A steering wheel assembly kit for converting a motor vehicle having a non-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel. The kit includes a first housing member adapted to be secured to the steering shaft of the vehicle and carries a steering shaft adapter and one of the elements of a universal coupler for rotation therewith. A second housing member rotatably mounts the second element of the universal coupler to provide a direct drive to the steering shaft. The second housing member is adapted to be pivotably connected to the first housing member to allow it to be positioned in axial alignment with the steering shaft and to be moved into a tilted position relative thereto whereby the steering shaft is controlled at all positions to the universal coupling elements.

United States Patent [191 Hoffman STEERING WHEEL KIT Edward H. Hoffman,Simi, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Royal Industries, Inc., Pasadena,

Calif.

22 Filed: July 13, 1972 211 App]. No.: 271,414

[75] lnventor:

[52] US. Cl. 74/493, 74/495 [51] Int. Cl 862d 1/18 [58] Field of Search74/493, 552, 495; 64/21 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,167,971 2/1965 Zeigler et al 74/493 3,424,473 1/1969 Morgan 74/493Primary ExaminerBenjamin W. Wyche Assistant Examiner-F. D. ShoemakerAttorney, Agent, or Firm'Christie, Parker & Hale Mar. 12, 1974 5 7]ABSTRACT A steering wheel assembly kit for converting a motor vehiclehaving a non-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel. Thekit includes a first housing member adapted to be secured to thesteering shaft of the vehicle and carries a steering shaft adapter andone of the elements of a universal coupler for rotation therewith. Asecond housing member rotatably mounts the second element of theuniversal coupler to provide a direct drive to the steering shaft. Thesecond housing member is adapted to be pivotably connected to the firsthousing member to allow it to be positioned in axial alignment with thesteering shaft and to be moved into'a tilted position relative theretowhereby the steering shaft is controlled at all positions to theuniversal coupling elements.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures mmreum 1 2 mm 3796; 1 12 sum 2 or 5 STEERINGWHEEL KIT The kit includes a first housing member adapted to be securedto the steering shaft of the vehicle and carries a steering shaftadapter and one of the elements of a universal coupler for rotationtherewith. A second housing member rotatably mounts the second elementof the universal coupler to provide a direct drive to the steeringshaft. The second housing member is adapted to be pivotably connected tothe first housing member to allow it to be positioned in axial alignmentwith the steering shaft and to be moved into a tilted position relativethereto whereby the steering shaft is controlled at all positions to theuniversal coupling elements.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION This invention relates to a steering wheel kitand more particularly to an assembly kit for converting a motor vehiclehaving a non-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel.

At the present time, motor vehicles are being manufactured with steeringwheels that are tiltable. The tiltable steering wheels are equipped bythe motor vehicle manufacturer with such equipment. A tiltable steeringwheel allows the motor vehicle operator to position the steering wheelin a multiplicity of positions in accordance with the operators desires.Such tiltable steering wheels are adapted to assume a normal position inaxial alignment with the steering shaft of a motor vehicle and assume aplurality of tilted positions with respect to the axis of the steeringwheel shaft. It has been found acceptable by motor vehicle operators toutilize a tiltable steering wheel since it allows the operator to enterand exit from the motor vehicle more readily and allows him to place thesteering wheel in a position that he finds most comfortable to hisdriving habits or to change the position of the steering wheel whiledriving. At the present time there is no means available for convertingthe standard non-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable wheel forvehicles that have not been equipped with tiltable steeling wheels bythe motor vehicle manufactures. The overwhelming majority of the motorvehicles have not been manufactured with tiltable steering wheels. Thereis a need at the present time for an assembly kit to convert a steeringwheel from a nontilting type to a tilting type at a minimum cost. Tothis end, such a conversion kit should be of such a simple constructionthat it allows the motor vehicle owner possessed with a minimum ofmechanical skills to remove the non-tiltable steering wheel and replaceit with a unit to convert it to a tiltable steering wheel.

.The present invention provides an improved, inexpensive and simpleassembly kit for converting a motor vehicle having a non-tiltablesteering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel. The tiltable wheel assemblykit of the present invention comprises a minimum of parts that can bereadily installed by an individual having a minimum of mechanical skillswithout any assembly problems or safety problems. In the course ofconverting the steering wheel to a tiltable type, the kit of the presentinvention has the additional feature that a custom type steering wheelmay be readily substituted for the original steering wheel.

From a structural standpoint, the present invention comprehends a kitfor converting a motor vehicle having a non-tiltable steering wheel to atiltable steering wheel wherein the vehicle has a steering columnarranged with a coaxial steering shaft. The kit comprises a firsthousing member adapted to be pressed against the end of the steeringcolumn and carrying means to be secured to the steering shaft. Thesteering shaft adapter means carries one of the elements of a universalcoupling means and it is mounted with the steering shaft such that itwill rotate therewith. The second housing member is adapted to bepivotably connected with the first housing member. The second housingmember rotatably mounts the second element of the universal coupling sothat when the two are coupled together a direct drive is provided toallow the steering shaft to be rotatably controlled including when inthe tilted positions of the first and second housing. The present kitfurther includes means for selectively and releasably securing thesecond housing member in axial alignment with the steering shaft,non-tilted, and for permitting the second housing member to be movedinto a plurality of tilted positions. The pivot axis of the firsthousing is arranged to be normal to and intersecting its shaft axis.Similarly, the pivot axis of the second housing is to be normal to andintersecting its shaft axis. In one practical embodiment of theinvention, the first element of the universal coupler comprises atrunnioned shaft adapter mounted rotatably with the first housing suchthat its trunnion axis rotates in the plane of its housing pivot axisand the second element of the coupler comprises a slotted shaft adapterthat engages the trunnions of the first adapter and is rotatably mountedto the second housing such that its slots are symmetrical with theintersection of the second housing pivot and shaft axes.

These and other features of the present invention may be more fullyappreciated when considered in the light of the following specificationand drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the elements of the tilt wheel conversionkit embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the assembled elements of a tiltablewheel conversion kit illustrating portions in dotted outline as it ismounted to a conventional steering column and shaft;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 through the housingpivot of the unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the detached, pivotable housing member ofthe assembly illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a simplified view of the unit of FIG. 2 illustrating the unitin a tilted relationship from that illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, of the unit ofFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

Now referring to the drawings, the tiltable wheel conversion kit of thepresent invention will be examined in detail. The unit as illustrated isparticularly adapted for converting a Volkswagen type motor vehicle fromhaving a non-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable unit. To this end,FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a Volkswagen post ignition lock Lattached to the steering column which is identified by the referenceletters SC. The steering shaft 10 is arranged coaxially of the steeringcolumn of the vehicle as is conventional. It should be understood that,as illustrated, the factory equipped steering wheel has been removedfrom the steering shaft and the illustration of FIG. 1 shows therelationship of the elements of the present invention as they are to beassembled on the steering shaft 10, progressing from right to left, thesteering shaft having a splined and threaded end 10.

Basically, the tilt wheel kit of the present invention comprises a firsthousing member A and a second housing member B adapted to be pivotallyconnected to each other for rotatably controlling the steering shaft 10.

The assembly kit, then, comprises a first housing member A adapted to bepressed against the steering column SC and, as illustrated, isconstructed and defined to be mounted so as to straddle the ignitionlock structure L. The second major component of the assembly kit is asecond housing member B constructed to be tiltably mounted to the firsthousing member A by means of the wrist pins 13 and 14 that are securedto suitable apertures 13 and 14 provided in the housing A. The firsthousing member A further mounts an adapter hub 15 to be fixed to thesteering shaft 10. The adapter hub 15 carries one of the elements of theuniversal coupler illustrated as a trunnion stub pair supporting blocks17 and 18 mounted on the adapter 15 at diametrically opposed locations.The adapter 15 is normally rendered fixed with the steering shaft 10through the provision of suitable securing means such as the matingsplines between the adapter 15 and the steering shaft 10". The adapter15 is axially secured by illustrated nut 20 which is to be secured tothe threaded end of the steering shaft 10 at the threaded end 10. Thesecond housing member B mounts a pawl 21 that coacts to secure the twohousing members A and B together by being secured to a latch pin 22carried by the housing member A. The pawl 21 is resiliently mounted toallow it to be depressed to engage and to be latched to the pin 22 uponassembly.

The secured position of the pawl 21 with respect to the latch pin 22 iscontrolled by an operating lever 23 secured to the second housing memberB for selectively and releasably controlling the position of the pawl 21with respect to the latching pin 22 for effecting the desired positionof the housing B with respect to housing A. The second housing member Bincludes a wheel mounting element 24 adapted for enclosing the outeropen end of the housing B and rotatably receiving the end 25 of slotteddrive joint half 25. The drive joint half 25 is the second member of theuniversal coupler and coacts with the trunnion mounted bearing blocks 17and 18 for providing the desired coupling between a steering wheel andthe steering shaft 10. The assembled housing members A and B arepreferably enclosed by means of a cover member 27 which slips over thehousing members A and B when the unit is completely assembled. Asteering wheel 28 is mounted on the outside of the cover member 27 bybeing fastened to the wheel mount 24. The steering wheel 28 may be ofconventional design or preferably of a custom design. The steering wheel28 is fixed to the wheel mount 24 and both the wheel mount 24 and thesteering wheel 28 are axially restrained to the threaded end 25 of theslotted drive joint half 25 by means of a fastener 29. A horn ring plate30 is mounted with the horn button 31 in a conventional relationshipwith the steering wheel 28.

The position of the elements of the conversion kit when assembled can bebest appreciated from examining FIGS. 2-5. The first housing member A isillustrated in FIG. 2 as it is mounted to the steering shaft 10 via theadapter hub 15 illustrated as supporting the housing A by means of abearing 32. The adapter hub 15 is fixed in rotation to the steeringshaft 10 by means of mating splines 10'. The adapter hub 15 is axiallyfixed to the steering shaft 10 by means of a retaining ring 34 andretaining nut 20. Housing A is prevented from rotating with the steeringshaft 10 by a tangential engagement with the steering column. One sucharrangement is illustrated in FIG. 1 by housing ears 40 engagingignition lock L. The adapter hub 15 contains trunnion stubs which mounta pair of bearing blocks 17 and 18. The bearing blocks preferably may beconstructed of a glass-filled nylon material for coacting and receivingthe slot of the drive joint half 25. The first housing member A furthermounts a latching element or a latch pin 22 for coacting with the pawl21. The pawl 21 is pivotally mounted by means of a pivot pin 35 to thesecond housing member B. The pawl 21 is illustrated with a plurality oflatching slots 21" for controlling the relative positions of the housingA and B between the non-tilted position illustrated in FIG. 2 and aplurality of tilted locations depending upon the particular slot 21 inwhich the pin 22 is positioned.

The pawl 21 is illustrated as having five latching positions 21. Theslotted drive joint half 25 consists of a pair of slotted arms integralwith a bearing plate and the steering wheel attach stud. The slots injoint half 25 may be made to accommodate cylindrical trunnion stubsdirectly or to accommodate the bearing blocks 17 and 18 as illustrated.In this fashion with the slotted drive joint half 25 arranged in atilted relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of thesteering shaft 10, the slots of the joint half 25 slide back and forthon the cylindrical trunnion stubs on the bearing blocks 17 and 18. Notethat the bearing blocks must also pivot on the trunnion stubs as theshaft assembly is rotated. Similarly, if the bearing blocks are omitted,the contact points between the slot surfaces and the cylindricaltrunnion stub will oscillate pivotally about the trunnion stub axis asthe shaft assembly is rotated. This construction defines a universalcoupling which is considered as a constant velocity coupling to allowthe steering shaft 10 to be rotated through the coupling when theslotted drive joint half 25 is arranged in any of the selected tiltedrelationships. For this purpose, the joint half 25 is supported in thesecond housing member B by means of bearing 36. The joint half 25 inturn supports the steering wheel mounting element 24 which provides atorque transferring means between the steering wheel and the joint half.The steering wheel mounting element 24 has the steering wheel 28 securedthereto to allow the rotational movement of the steering wheel 28 to betransmitted to the slotted joint half 25 and through the adapter 15 tothe steering shaft 10.

The relative positions of the housing member A AND B are determined bythe provision of the operating arm 23 which is secured to the secondhousing member B by means of a fastener 39, as best illustrated in FIG.4, with the latch spring 40 that allows the operating arm 23 to releasethe pawl 21 from the latch pin 22 by pulling down on the arm 23 withsufficient force to disengage the pawl 21 from the pin 22. This willallow the second housing member B to be pivoted about the wrist pins 13and 14 to a desired position so that when this position is reached, theoperating arm 23 may be released and allow the pawl 21 to be secured tothe pin 22.

As is clearly evident from FIG. 1, the housing member A is defined withears 40 so as to be slipped onto the steering column SC in anon-rotatable relationship therewith.

In a simplified form, from a structural standpoint, a tiltedrelationship of the steering wheel 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 6-8. Inthese views the steering wheel 28 is tilted at an angle of from thelongitudinal axis of the steering shaft 10. As is evident from viewingFIG. 6, when the wheel 28 is tilted, the housing member B is tilted withrespect to the housing member A. In this relationship the pawl 21engages the latch pin 22 at the outermost latching notch 22.

A feature that simplifies the installation of the tilt wheel assemblyunit is the coaxial arrangement of the wrist pins 13 and 14 with thebearing blocks 17 and 18 as is evident from viewing FIG. 7.

It should now be evident that when the steering wheel 28 is in a tiltedposition, and is rotated to steer the motor vehicle, the slotted drivejoint half at the point it engages the bearing blocks travels linearlyalong the side edges of the bearing blocks while imparting rotary motionto the adapter 15 and thereby the steering shaft 10.

What is claimed is:

l. A kit for converting a motor vehicle having a nontiltable steeringwheel to a tiltable steering wheel, the vehicle having a steering columnarranged with a coaxial steering shaft including a first housing memberadapted to be secured to the steering wheel shaft column and carryingmeans adapted to be rotatably secured to the steering shaft, said meanscarrying one of the elements of a constant velocity universal coupling.

a second housing member adapted to be pivotally coupled to the firsthousing member,

pivot means coupling the first and second housing members together,

the second housing member rotatably mounting a second element of theuniversal coupling and adapted to be coupled to said one element of thecoupling to allow the steering shaft to be controlled thereby, and

means for selectively and releasably securing the second housing memberin axial alignment with the steering shaft and said first housing memberand in a plurality of preselected tilted relationships therewith.

2. A kit as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of the elements of thecoupling comprises a pair of diametrically spaced bearing blocks and thesecond element of the universal coupling comprises a slotted drive jointhalf whereby at any tilted position of the drive joint half, the drivejoint slides back and forth over the bearing blocks.

3. A tilt wheel assembly kit for converting a motor vehicle having anon-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel, the vehiclehaving a steering column arranged with a coaxial steering shaftincluding a first housing member adapted to be mounted to the steeringcolumn in a non-rotatable relationship therewith,

a steering shaft adapter carried by the first housing member so as to becoupled to the steering shaft to be rotatable therewith,

means for securing the adapter to the steering shaft for relationship inunison with the steering shaft,

U-joint bushing means mounted with said adapter,

a second housing member adapted to be pivotally mounted to the firsthousing member, said second housing member rotatably carrying drivemeans adapted to be coupled to said bushing means for rotating thesteering shaft upon rotation thereof including when the second housingmember is tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the steeringshaft,

means coupled to said drive means for rotating same,

means coupled between the first and second housing members forcontrolling the tilting and non-tilting relationship of the housingmembers and adapted to position the second housing member at apreselected plurality of tilted positions, and

means coupled to the second housing member for controllably operatingsaid latter mentioned means for controllably positioning the secondhousing member relative to the first housing member.

4. A tilt wheel assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the first housingmember carries a latch pin and the second housing member pivotallymounts a pawl engageable with the latch pin for releasably securing thehousing members at said plurality of positions.

5. A tilt wheel assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said meanscoupled to the drive means comprises a steering wheel mount secured tosaid drive means for rotation therewith, and a steering wheel secured tosaid wheel mount for rotating the steering shaft through said drivemeans at each of the selected positions of the second housing member.

6. A tilt wheel assembly as defined in claim 5 including a cover membermounted over said housing members.

7. A tilt wheel assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the operatingmeans comprises an operating handle extending outwardly of said secondhousing member and adapted to release the pawl from the latch pin forpositioning the second housing member in another position and to securethe pawl and latch pin in said other position.

8. A tilt wheel conversion kit for converting a motor vehicle having anon-tilting steering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel comprising abase assembly member adapted to be non-rotatably mounted to the steeringcolumn of a motor vehicle and carrying a steering wheel adapter hubrotatably mounted thereto to receive the exposed end of a steering wheelshaft mounted in the steering column,

the adapter hub mounting a pair of spaced apart bearing blocks,

said base assembly member mounting a latching element,

means for securing the adapter hub to the steering wheel shaft,

a housing member adapted to be pivotally secured to said base assemblymember,

said housing member carrying a slotted drive member slidably coupledwith the bearing blocks to rotatably drive the steering wheel shaftincluding when said housing member is tilted at preselected anglesrelative to the axis of the steering wheel shaft, said housing memberpivotally mounting a housing member latching element adapted for cofroman untilted position to various angles of tilt and from a tiltedposition to an untilted position to permit the steering wheel shaft tobe rotated at any one of the latched positions, and

a steering wheel adapted to be operatively secured to said housingmember for rotatably driving said drive member.

1. A kit for converting a motor vehicle having a non-tiltable steeringwheel to a tiltable steering wheel, the vehicle having a steering columnarranged with a coaxial steering shaft including a first housing memberadapted to be secured to the steering wheel shaft column and carryingmeans adapted to be rotatably secured to the steering shaft, said meanscarrying one of the elements of a constant velocity universal coupling.a second housing member adapted to be pivotally coupled to the firsthousing member, pivot means coupling the first and second housingmembers together, the second housing member rotatably mounting a secondelement of the universal coupling and adapted to be coupled to said oneelement of the coupling to allow the steering shaft to be controlledthereby, and means for selectively and releasably securing the secondhousing member in axial alignment with the steering shaft and said firsthousing member and in a plurality of preselected tilted relationshipstherewith.
 2. A kit as defined in claim 1 wherein said one of theelements of the coupling comprises a pair of diametrically spacedbearing blocks and the second element of the universal couplingcomprises a slotted drive joint half whereby at any tilted position ofthe drive joint half, the drive joint slides back and forth over thebearing blocks.
 3. A tilt wheel assembly kit for converting a motorvehicle having a non-tiltable steering wheel to a tiltable steeringwheel, the vehicle having a steering column arranged with a coaxialsteering shaft including a first housing member adapted to be mounted tothe steering column in a non-rotatable relationship therewith, asteering shaft adapter carried by the first housing member so as to becoupled to the steering shaft to be rotatable therewith, means forsecuring the adapter to the steering shaft for relationship in unisonwith the steering shaft, U-joint bushing means mounted with saidadapter, a second housing member adapted to be pivotally mounted to thefirst housing member, said second housing member rotatably carryingdrive means adapted to be coupled to said bushing means for rotating thesteering shaft upon rotation thereof including when the second housingmember is tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the steeringshaft, means coupled to said drive means for rotating same, meanscoupled between the first and second housing members for controlling thetilting and non-tilting relationship of the housing members and adaptedto position the second housing member at a preselected plurality oftilted positions, and means coupled to the second housing member forcontrollably operating said latter mentioned means for controllablypositioning the second housing member relative to the first housingmember.
 4. A tilt wheel assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein the firsthousing member carries a latch pin and the second housing memberpivotally mounts a pawl engageable with the latch pin for releasablysecuring the housing members at said plurality of positions.
 5. A tiltwheel assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said means coupled to thedrive means comprises a steering wheel mount secured to said drive meansfor rotation therewith, and a steering wheel secured to said wheel mountfor rotating the steering shaft through said drive means at each of theselected positIons of the second housing member.
 6. A tilt wheelassembly as defined in claim 5 including a cover member mounted oversaid housing members.
 7. A tilt wheel assembly as defined in claim 4wherein the operating means comprises an operating handle extendingoutwardly of said second housing member and adapted to release the pawlfrom the latch pin for positioning the second housing member in anotherposition and to secure the pawl and latch pin in said other position. 8.A tilt wheel conversion kit for converting a motor vehicle having anon-tilting steering wheel to a tiltable steering wheel comprising abase assembly member adapted to be non-rotatably mounted to the steeringcolumn of a motor vehicle and carrying a steering wheel adapter hubrotatably mounted thereto to receive the exposed end of a steering wheelshaft mounted in the steering column, the adapter hub mounting a pair ofspaced apart bearing blocks, said base assembly member mounting alatching element, means for securing the adapter hub to the steeringwheel shaft, a housing member adapted to be pivotally secured to saidbase assembly member, said housing member carrying a slotted drivemember slidably coupled with the bearing blocks to rotatably drive thesteering wheel shaft including when said housing member is tilted atpreselected angles relative to the axis of the steering wheel shaft,said housing member pivotally mounting a housing member latching elementadapted for coaction with the base assembly latching element forlatching the housing member and the base assembly member togetherincluding when the housing member is positioned in one of said tiltedpositions, means extending outwardly of the housing member and coupledto the housing member to allow said latching elements to be selectivelylatched and unlatched to allow the housing member to be moved from anuntilted position to various angles of tilt and from a tilted positionto an untilted position to permit the steering wheel shaft to be rotatedat any one of the latched positions, and a steering wheel adapted to beoperatively secured to said housing member for rotatably driving saiddrive member.